S/PV.3150 Security Council

The PRESIDENT: I should like to inform the Council that I have re-eived a letter from the representative of Bosnia end Herzegovina in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council's agenda. In accordance with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion, without the right to vote, in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided. h neil .

The PRESIDENT: The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them document S/24977, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by Belgium, France, Morocco and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I should like to draw the attention of members of the Council to document §/24960, which contains the text of a letter dated 14 December 1992 from the Permanent Representatives of Belgium, France and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any objection, I shall now put the draft resolution to the vote. There being no objection, it is so decided. wi n how _of . In favour: Austria, Belgium, Cape Verde, China, Ecuador, France, Hungary, India, Japan, Morocco, Russian Federation, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

The PRESIDENT: 'There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resclution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 798 (1992). I shall now call on those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting.

Mr. NOTERDAEME (Belgium) (interpretation from French): Belgium's term as a nou-permanent member of the Council is drawing to an end. During this period of almost 24 months, my delegation has had to consider many critical situations and numerous tragedies throughout the world. To be sure, the effects of violence and injustice cannot be compared: there is no scale on which to weigh blood and tears. None the less, the terrible events to which we are reacting today are, without any doubt, among the most odious we have ever had to face. The combination of brutality and methodical approach have given the actions of the Serb militias in Bosnia and Herzegovina an especially repugnant countenance. We thauoht wa had reached the limits af azyrors in thie horrihle civil wart hut we were wrong. On top of the barbaric acts that inevitably go with any civil war, there are massive numbers of organized, systematic rapes of women, particularly Musi.m women, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We find that words cannot gxpress our indignation. The delegation of the European Community will go into the former Yugoslavia, particularly into Bosnia and Herzegovina, and strive to bring a definitive end to the monstrous conduct of the self-proclaimed Serb warriors. In that way it will prompt the reaction of men and women the world over for the restoration of the dignity of the victims of this unspeakable behaviour. The European Community deserves the immediate and unanimous support of our Council.

The PRESIDENT: The Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the jtem on its agenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter.